diff --git a/config_tempest/services/image.py b/config_tempest/services/image.py
index e7888e62..91543f19 100644
--- a/config_tempest/services/image.py
+++ b/config_tempest/services/image.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import time
+import webob.exc
 
 from functools import wraps
 
@@ -56,6 +57,10 @@ class ImageService(VersionedService):
         self.convert = convert
 
     def set_default_tempest_options(self, conf):
+        # set 'image-feature-enabled' only if multiple stores available
+        num_stores = self._get_number_of_stores()
+        if num_stores:
+            conf.set('image-feature-enabled', 'import_image', 'True')
         # When cirros is the image, set validation.image_ssh_user to cirros.
         # The option is heavily used in CI and it's also usefull for refstack,
         # because we don't have to specify overrides.
@@ -77,6 +82,13 @@ class ImageService(VersionedService):
             # default value
             conf.set('image', 'http_image', C.DEFAULT_IMAGE)
 
+    def _get_number_of_stores(self):
+        try:
+            stores = self.client.info_stores()['stores']
+            return len(stores)
+        except webob.exc.HTTPNotFound as e:
+            C.LOG.info("Cannot retrieve stores since '%s'", e.message)
+
     def get_supported_versions(self):
         return ['v1', 'v2']